Penske: Track decay easy to fix for 2013 Detroit Grand Prix

DETROIT — Roger Penske said Monday the track problems that delayed the Detroit Grand Prix over the weekend are easily fixable for next year's race.

"We're not perfect, we certainly found that out during the race," he said. "The streets are not used a lot, there's the heaving with the cold and weather, and the suction of the cars and the cornering power pulled up some areas where we had done work."

Patches of the Belle Isle road course were ripped off the ground by IndyCars, creating dangerous race conditions. One driver described the track decay as "playing Russian roulette."

Penske added race officials had anticipated the stress on the Belle Isle roads, but needed to do more to reinforce the surfaces.

"We saw some areas needed worked and he put down pavement," he said. "Obviously it wasn't enough. We'll address that in 2013."

Penske addressed reporters following a press conference on a proposed transit system in Detroit.

Even with the delay, Penske said the race was a success. He estimated 100,000 people brought $50 million into the city over the weekend.

"I was thrilled for the weekend when you look at the number of people who traveled to Belle Isle over the weekend," Penske said.

He compared Sunday's race delay to another summer sport.

"There was a great racing in Detroit," he said. "There's a rain delay in baseball, we had a little track delay in Detroit."

The Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle will return in 2013. The IndyCar race has a three-year contract to host the event.